12. Elton Brand
Over the past few months, we’ve been running down the 50 guys that we think are the 50 best players, right here, right now. With the season starting, the list is almost complete. Today, Elton Brand takes a look at Elton Brand…
With summer dragging on and on and on before the NBA tips off, we’ve decided to initiate a multipart series that will be the definitive look at the best players in the NBA today.
Over lunch at the Outback Steakhouse (word to Steve Irwin), your crack SLAMonline.com staff sat down and ranked the 50 best players in the NBA today. We realize that’s kind of ambiguous, but that’s how basketball is and that’s how we like it. Basically, though, we tried to list the 50 guys we think have the most value to their teams, right now, at this moment. This doesn’t mean they’ll never be traded, and it doesn’t mean they’re due tremendous contract extensions, but it does mean — since value is king in the NBA — that over the next month or so we’ll run down the 50 guys that we think are the 50 best players, right here, right now.
Before long it’ll be time for our annual NBA team previews. Right now it’s time for some law and order…
12. Elton Brand
Excerpted from SLAM 93, by Elton Brand as told to Susan Price
When I first got to the League, it was so fast-paced. I got some tips from some of the hometown guys, the New York guys, like Anthony Mason. I talked to them in the summertime. Mason taught me how to work hard, how to be a power forward. It was a tough road at the beginning, really tough to get acclimated to the League. But once you do it, you kind of figure your way through it, like, I need to work on this, I need to work on that. He told me what I had to do if I wanted to be a good player. If not, then you could be out of the League. And I’ve seen that with former friends and former teammates.
My first year, I got to play with Ron [Artest] again on the Bulls. We played together in AAU. He was—and is—really competitive. We came right after the dynasty teams, and we had a tough time. We’d hear things, like ‘the HorriBulls.’ We were kind of young then…
In 2001, I found out I might get traded on Draft night. I talked to my agent that night and he said that Jerry Krause was looking to trade me, that he was fielding a lot of offers to trade me. He said, ‘Do you want me to try and block it? What do you want me to do?’ The two teams right then were the Washington Wizards, because they had the number one pick with Kwame Brown, and the Clippers had the number two pick. You know, I was a little intimidated, I’ll admit, going to Washington. I said I wanted to go to the Clippers, with Corey [Maggette], a college friend, and Lamar [Odom], an AAU friend from New York. I wanted to go. And it was L.A. I watched them beat Portland on TV that same year, and I was like, Man, they’re havin’ fun! Because I was with the Bulls and we won 17 games or something. The Clippers won 20 or 30-something. And they were having fun. I was like, Man, that’d be cool to be there. So I told him, I actually told him I wanted to go there, and he was like, ‘What? Not there! They don’t pay.’ He tried to talk me out of it a little bit, but I didn’t care. I said, We’ll deal with that when it comes to that.
My first year with the Clippers, we actually did pretty well. We were in sixth place during the All-Star break. That’s when Karl Malone was with Utah. You know, the West was still pretty strong. We had our own TV show on ESPN. I made the All-Star Game my first year with the Clippers. We were on the cover of SLAM—me, Darius and Lamar. We were winning a lot of games and we just imploded at the end. It was tough. We had nine guys not under contract, we had about six guys that were considered max players from the media, their friends and everybody else, so that kind of hurt us. It was tough.
This Clippers team, though, is great. There’s definitely a big difference from a year or two ago. We have a more veteran-laden team now, with Cuttino and Sam and Corey. And I’m 26. I’ve been around! The rookies know we need our rest. That’s how it is when you get older [laughs].
There’s all this talk about us and the Lakers, being in the same town, how we’re now the best team in L.A. As for the Lakers, it gets a little taxing, all the comparisons, ’cause we don’t care. They definitely have the tradition, the heritage. You can’t take that away from them. I compare it to New York. Growing up in Westchester, I have some friends that are die-hard Knick fans. They are die-hard Knick fans, Clippers fans second, but die-hard Knick fans. So when the Nets, no matter how exciting they are if they move to Brooklyn, until they establish themselves as a New York team and win some championships, they’ll always be the second New York team. You know, it’s been a while for the Knicks, too, but they won’t have that problem ’cause they have the championships.
There’s some discussion about the MVP right now. It doesn’t bother me that people are talking about me now, even though my numbers are pretty much the same as they’ve been. Not at all. I learned early that you get the individual with team success. Of course you have to pay your dues. My rookie year, I averaged 20 and 10, won co-Rookie of the Year, but Dale Davis got the All-Star nod averaging 9 and 8, playing in Indiana. Numbers-wise, it didn’t make sense, but his team was in first place, so I understood early that your team has to win.
50 Responses to “12. Elton Brand”
Oct.31 at 4:12 pm
TrippleX says:
First post!
Oct.31 at 4:12 pm
JG says:
WHAT THE FUCK is Elton Brand doing behind Melo and CP
Oct.31 at 4:12 pm
2Pac says:
EB42 DESERVES higher than this
Oct.31 at 4:15 pm
TrippleX says:
But brand is too low. Gil, Brand, wtf is this? How the hell are Melo man and CP3 over these gus? way too overrated. i would expect yao, cp3 and melo to be the next 3, but i bet slam would put like duncan next or something. ridiculous….
Oct.31 at 4:18 pm
rob stewart says:
Good story. EB has persevered and is reaping the benifits of consistent hard work.
Oct.31 at 4:19 pm
JG says:
I like Chris Paul and everything, but if he sneeks into the top 10 i won’t get it. Someone let me know if he’s already been on the list and I’m just making an ass out of myself
Oct.31 at 4:21 pm
Ang says:
no way should melo and cp3 be in the top 10. arenas, brand, and even shaq, are all higher.
Oct.31 at 4:27 pm
abelp says:
no matter where ur team is dale davis shouldve never been an allstar instead of EB!!!!
Oct.31 at 4:28 pm
abelp says:
and no matter what they look like right now…the bulls wouldve been better with elton, ron ron and brad miller
Oct.31 at 4:30 pm
Ryan W. says:
The Bulls really blew it with Brand. It’s tough to say if he deserves to be higher because the Clippers didn’t go anywhere until Cassel and Mobley were added in the mix. I had high hopes for the Brand/Maggette/Q squads of the recent past.
Oct.31 at 4:41 pm
Will says:
You know damn well that CP3 could average 20p,10r,5a,2s for the season, right? at PG spot?
KG averaged 20-10-5 and he got $126 million dollar contract.
Oct.31 at 4:44 pm
Will says:
Sorry, that’s 10a,5r
His averages now are approximately 17p,8a,5r,2s .. that lofty 20p,10a,5r,2s are not that far away.
If he fixed his field goal and three point shooting a bit, he’ll reach 20p easy. Peja Stojakovic makes more shots than whoever started for them last year.
Oct.31 at 4:52 pm
A_B says:
melo gonn lead the leauge in scoring this year…true story
Oct.31 at 5:05 pm
Chief says:
Oh for sho A_B Melo is gonna rule the league thsi year. U heard it hear first…Elton is a hard worker but it looks like the top players are all gonna be guys who played for Team USA?
It doesn’t matter cause i thought about it and this is who are most valuble to their team right for our top three:
DWADE number one
Carmelo Anthony number two
Lebron James number 3
believe that
Steve Nash number 4 three times in a row?
maybe
Much love to all my boys on they reserves!
Oct.31 at 5:06 pm
Chris O'Leary says:
I love those cheesy pics of the player with the city’s skyline behind them. It’s like some bad action movie where they’re flying a cutout of EB across the screen.
Oct.31 at 5:32 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Elton Brand is also the only ex-Dookie that is immune to the curse. Grant Hill (injury), Laettner (performance), Jay Williams (reckelssness), L’il Dun (performance), Maggette (injury), Ferry (all kinds of stuff), Trajan Langdon (Who knows). Battier has been fine, but how much were we really expecting.
Good luck Shelden and JJ.
Oct.31 at 5:49 pm
playa says:
Anyone else getting annoyed by the constant bitching about these rankings? It’s their rankings, DEAL WITH IT. Feel free to discuss it intelligently, but don’t just say “NO WAY SHOULD BE PLAYER X AND Y!! I’M AUDI YO!!” Please stop dumbing down the conversation. thanks
Oct.31 at 5:49 pm
albie1kenobi says:
Bulls definitely gave up on Elton too soon. i’ll never understand why GMs trade sure-fire players for untested projects. abelp is right, the bulls could be just as dominating defensively but would have an awesome scoring front court too. now that would definitely be a championship team.
of all the Dookies, Hill definitely had the biggest potential to be a megastar. a real nice guy that even a Tar Heel fan can root for, right Shiz?
Oct.31 at 5:52 pm
Chief says:
yeah We all feel sorry for Hill the man was gonna fill up Jordan’s shoes in the L.
Now we’re left with Kobe and Lebron…sigh?
Not hating on Lebron but i strognly dislike Kobe.
Melo for Number One!
Oct.31 at 6:00 pm
serbia23 says:
hes alright too high though he aint dat good
Oct.31 at 6:12 pm
Harlem World says:
CP over Brand? *sigh* Was that slam radio interview THAT important to you? Where did Dwight Howard place on this list (I missed that listing)? Everyone talking about how CP is the ‘All-Everything’ for the Hornets. True. But how good do you think the Hornets are? They TUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRIBLE. Get some perspective and some balls.
Oct.31 at 6:16 pm
serbia23 says:
harlem world da hornets are actually gonna be good this year with chris paul, peja stojakovic, tyson chandler(i think), and other players
Oct.31 at 7:09 pm
Justin H says:
Another Great Bigman. Not better than T-Mac though.
Oct.31 at 7:14 pm
Clay says:
Clippers have a great team, Brand could be looking at an MVP season if he takes his team deep into the playoffs again. He just keeps getting better…
The Bulls are idiots for letting this guy go!
Oct.31 at 7:22 pm
Mike says:
If Steve Nash is 4th how come he’s two-time most valuable and you’re putting him 4th How come Dwayne, Melo, Lebron, Kobe or anyone else didn’t win it the last two years
Oct.31 at 7:24 pm
Michael says:
Dwight was rated 15th
Oct.31 at 7:25 pm
D says:
Happy Halloween Slam
Oct.31 at 7:31 pm
albie1kenobi says:
Chief, as an NBA fan, i also dislike Kobe; but as a basketball purist, i enjoy watching kobe play because his basketball skill (both physical and mental) are unparallel in the NBA right now. that’s why i still can’t make up my mind about kobe.
Oct.31 at 7:42 pm
chronically_ill says:
Was Sam Cassell on this list? Cuz i think he deserves to be. I LOVE Brand and all, cuz he’s such a hardworking, no bullshit type of player. but Brand didnt achieve any team success until Sam I Am came here. True, Brand did improve his outside shot and got quicker. but would even the new-and-improved Brand have gotten the Clips that far into the postseason without Sammy? hmmm….. I think what we have here is a KG situation. KG couldnt get out of the first round without Sam and he hasent sniffed the postseason since Sam left Minny (to all you KG fans out there, I’m not hating. I’m just stating the facts so far, and I hope KG proves me wrong in the future). think about it. it’s a fact. Sam Cassell just makes good players around him even better. But i’m not mad at Brand being on this, cuz the Clips are my team!
Oct.31 at 7:43 pm
chronically_ill says:
oh wait, never mind, i just realized sam cassell was on this list earlier. my bad. but you guys get my point.
Oct.31 at 8:17 pm
Gilbert Arenas says:
Melo is the most hyped player ever, if he didnt have the street cred and sold jerseys likes woah he wouldnt be in the top ten, having him in front of arenas and brand and dwight howard and even tmac now thats shady my friends…to whoever pointed out that he led the nugs to the playoffs failed to mention that the nuggets have a relatively deep team and that melo fell flat on his face on the playoffs….was he clutch last season yes, was he US’s best player in the worlds hell yea, does he deserve to be ranked up there with lebron and wade NO WAY….as good as CP3 is he is overhyped now….apparently slam has a hard on for melo man and has no love for richard jefferson, rashard lewis, and rashaeed wallace
Oct.31 at 8:28 pm
Teddy-the-Bear says:
aww man how is Dirk Nowitzki and CP3 in front of Elton Brand? This is mezzed….
Oct.31 at 9:25 pm
IllyPhilly6 says:
This obviously means Chris Paul is overrated, as is Yao Ming and Carmelo Anthony.
EB is like a modern day Charles Barkely, undersized, strong big men. Brand is also developed a great mid-range shot. You could argue Casell and Mobley the reason for Clippers success but EB is a huge part in what has happened, he made the Clippers good.
Oct.31 at 9:33 pm
DP says:
ha melo gone show all yall. thats all i got to say today so play wit it. fo real play wit it.
Oct.31 at 10:59 pm
ALX8725 says:
Yeah I agree that Chris Paul is overrated… as with Carmelo… I guess at this point its all just a popularity contest
Nov.1 at 12:57 am
Chris says:
Teddy-the-Bear, how the hell are you gonna say EB belongs ahead of Dirk? My Top 5: 1. Lebron
2. Dirk
3. Kobe
4. Nash
5. Wade (mainly cuz his team got SMOKED tonight and Kirk Hinrich outplayed him).
Nov.1 at 1:31 am
scott says:
Wasn’t Elton Brand the first player to leave Duke before his time was up? Always was a real solid player but last year Brand took his game to the elite level. Brand deserves this spot. There are some guys ahead of Elton Brand that shouldn’t be Allen Iverson, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Garnett none of these guys are more valuable to their teams then Brand is to the Clippers. Although, I would have put Amare Stoudemire (if healthy), Dwight Howard, and Gilbert Arenas ahead of Brand.
Nov.1 at 4:48 am
DVLb0y613 says:
EB probably the most underated PF in the game…
Nov.1 at 10:57 am
t dot c.arlos says:
Brand should have been seriously considered for mvp honors last year. I would put him right there with KG. They both got the mid rangers going on, but Brand is arguebly the better blocker and rebounder while KG is the better passer and has better handles.
Nov.1 at 11:03 am
t dot c.arlos says:
Considering the talent each player has around him, potential, and how much of an impact the player ranked has on his teamates id go, Kobe
Nash
Lebron-Wade (virtually tied, one could argue that james gets the nod since wade still has shaq around for at least 1 more yr)
Tim Duncan, Dirk, KG-(Humble Timmy gets forgotten) i give up this top 5 thing is too hard haha too many ties
Nov.1 at 11:39 am
JG says:
Not to change the subject, but Kirk SMOKED the Heat last night, damn…
top five:
Lebron
Kobe
Nash
Wade
Nowitzki
Nov.1 at 12:55 pm
r money says:
top 10:
A. I.
Kobe
Bron
Wade
Melo
Paul Pierce
VC
T mac
Joe Johnson
Gilbert Arenas
Nov.1 at 1:01 pm
Maurice says:
This is a perfect spot for him.
Nov.1 at 1:51 pm
t dot c.arlos says:
hhahhaha no way AI should be in the top 5, he cant even take his team to the playoffs and the 76ers arent half bad
Nov.1 at 1:59 pm
t dot c.arlos says:
and who puts joe johnson in the top ten over gilbert arenas yet leaves out duncan, KG, and dirk……nonsense
Nov.1 at 2:24 pm
B.C says:
dang hu ever is writing this must be prety dumb hw is elton rated beta than shaq t-mac pdub and V.C
Nov.1 at 2:53 pm
allenp says:
t dot carlos is speaking nonsense with his AI post. AI may not be able to drag the current group of bums to the playoffs, but he’s already done it with another group and got to the Finals. just saying.
Nov.1 at 6:37 pm
Portland Dankblazers Carlos says:
ha current group of bums, switch arenas and AI, and arenas takes your “group of bums” to the playoffs for sure.
Nov.2 at 8:50 pm
Paolo says:
With all due respect to Allen Iverson, Chris paul and Yao Ming, ELton Brand cannot be ranked below them. I have always given this ranking the benefit of the doubt and the much needed respect that you were a plenary when you discussed the rankings. Tracy McGrady is my favorite player but I can understand why he is just 17. It’s the “current” truth. But putting Elton Brand but of the top ten? I’m not going to sugracoat it, but this ranking of EB has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve seen from your organization. He is the Anti-Iverson. He is all for the team. Heck, he even got the CLippers (yes! the Clippers) some credibility. AI can’t even get to the playoffs. And if you spend a decade looking for “somebody who can complement your game,” and not seem to find it, the problem is not the second banans, the problem is you. This is an insult to Elton Brand.
Nov.4 at 1:23 am
Jose says:
Paolo speaks the truth.